Heidi Riney

Heidi Riney, MD, D.ABPN

Medical Director, Board Certified in Sleep Medicine and Neurology

Dr. Riney is a Board Certified Sleep Medicine Physician with additional expertise in neurophysiology. She is board certified in both Neurology and Sleep Medicine. Dr. Riney is a member of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM), Georgia Association of Sleep Professionals (GASP) and National Sleep Foundation (NSF), where she serves on the Public Affairs Committee. She completed her medical training at Wake Forest, neurology residency and neurophysiology fellowship at Emory University and sleep medicine fellowship at FusionSleep. Dr. Riney currently evaluates adults and children with sleep, wake, and circadian rhythm problems at the Atlanta North location.

Biography

Dr. Heidi Riney began her fellowship in Sleep Medicine at FusionSleep in January of 2008 and graduated in January 2009.

She received her undergraduate education at Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia. During her time at Emory University, she completed her bachelor’s degree in Psychology. Her interest in neurobiology, as well as her research and volunteering experiences with chronic pain patients led her to study medicine. She earned her medical degree (MD) at Wake Forest University School of Medicine in Winston-Salem, NC in 1998. During Dr. Riney’s tenure at Wake Forest, she was involved in research concerning the effects of cocaine on social interactions in group-housed macaques. She also continued working with under-served clinics dispensing medications and treating patients. Following this, Dr. Riney completed her neurology residency at Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia.

During her neurology residency, Dr. Riney taught neuroanatomy courses and led small group clinical cases with second year Emory medical students. She was also involved in research, looking at concentric-needle single-fiber electromyography for the diagnosis of myasthenia gravis.

After her neurology residency, Dr. Riney completed a clinical neurophysiology fellowship at Emory University. During her fellowship, Dr. Riney led weekly lectures with neurology residents on topics related to electromyography and electroencephalography. Dr. Riney is board certified in Neurology and Sleep Medicine by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology, is a member of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, Georgia Association of Sleep Professionals (GASP) and National Sleep Foundation (NSF), where she serves on the Public Affairs Committee.

Autobiography

“The worst thing in the world is to try to sleep and not to.”~F. Scott Fitzgerald~

According to The National Sleep Foundation, we have reduced our average nightly sleep time over the past two centuries. Before electricity was invented, people slept an average of 10 hours per night, while Americans today only sleep an average of under 7 hours per night. In the past few decades, we have learned much more about sleep and its many complexities. We are learning that sleep deprivation can have very serious consequences to our health, and that sleep disorders are incredibly common. Sleep is something that affects us all, and there is still so much more to be understood.

Before training in internal medicine, neurology, and neurophysiology at Emory University in Atlanta, GA, I was always drawn to the science of the brain and focused my undergraduate studies in neuropsychology at Emory University. My passion for neurosciences continued in medical school at Wake Forest University, where I performed research, looking at the effects of cocaine on the neural dopaminergic systems and its effects on social behaviors.

During my neurology and neurophysiology training at Emory University, I gained insight into the biological foundation of sleep as well as many other related behaviors. Through my years of patient care and in discussions with colleagues who struggled with sleep problems, I realized that there is a large and growing need for community-based programs in sleep medicine. I regularly find it fascinating and rewarding to be able to apply the principles of sleep medicine in everyday practice and to see real and significant results. I entered medicine to improve the lives of the people, and I feel fortunate to do this everyday at FusionSleep.

My goal at FusionSleep is to provide you with the latest diagnostic and therapeutics available in sleep medicine, and to help you understand the basis for these treatments. By carefully listening to my patients, I employ specific diagnostic testing when needed to tailor a therapeutic plan for each individual.